Can A Common Spice Be Used As An Alternative to Over-The-Counter NSAIDs in Laurel MD?
How many people do you know with chronic pain of some type who take an over-the-counter NSAID such as ibuprofen (Advil) or who use it for their routine aches and pains? Or perhaps you use it yourself daily for something such as arthritis or an old sports injury. If you use it you may have experienced one of its most common side effects, stomach upset. These over-the-counter medications known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are very commonly recommended to treat chronic pain, and especially pain that results from arthritis, despite the common side effects, and known potential for harming the liver. Patients who are trying to avoid using this medication have found success with using an extract from a common spice. Curcumin, which is extracted from turmeric, has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties, similar to the anti-inflammatory properties of NSAIDs.
In a studies published by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists as well as in the International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, curcumin has been shown to provide an anti-inflammatory effect in the body. Inflammation has a role in many common conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, allergies and asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
In a study of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, the benefits of curcumin were shown to be effective as or better than NSAIDs at treating their pain. The patients using the curcumin had more improvements in their pain than those who were taking the NSAID. In addition, some of the patient who were taking the NSAID stopped due to the side effects of the NSAID!
Multiple clinical trials have further studied the safety and effectiveness of curcumin in treating post-operative inflammation, stomach ulcers, psoriasis, recurrent respiratory tract infections, and atherosclerosis. It was concluded that numerous studies have given solid basis to show the potential efficacy of curcumin against many chronic inflammatory conditions we face. Curcumin is a much safer alternative or complement in caring for many conditions. For patients who no longer wish to rely on NSAIDs and risk their side effects, a regimen of curcumin may provide relief! Visit Dr. Hawk at Laurel Regional Chiropractic to determine if adding this supplement may be beneficial for you!
